BBC Focus On Africa: Seeking justice for Lion Sleeps Tonight composer
I find articles like this to be very interesting. You'll have to make your own decision.
From article:
"Zimbabwean music mogul Munya Chanetsa felt his hackles rise when he learnt about the royalties battles that have been fought over the song Mbube - also known as The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
It is arguably the world's most famous song about a lion - and for more than eight decades it has made a lot of money for many people around the world.
But the composer of the catchy tune, South African Solomon Linda, died destitute in 1962.
While US artists were at loggerheads over the lucrative melody, he had been in and out of hospitals and suffering from kidney failure."
Much more at link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55333535
I've always enjoyed the various versions of this song that I've heard. Now I know the rest of the story.